2008 Ford F-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
369 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
61,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 319 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 369 complaints (14.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 88 | 23.8% |
| Steering behavior | 58 | 15.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 53 |
| Steering | 50 |
| Power Train | 38 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
Engine: 53; Steering: 50; Power Train: 38; Vehicle Speed Control: 36; Electrical System: 29; Air Bags: 27; Fuel/Propulsion System: 21; Service Brakes: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 77 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 57 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 57 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 48 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 53 |
| 150,000 and above | 27 |
Under 25,000: 77; 25,000 to 49,999: 57; 50,000 to 74,999: 57; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 53; 150,000 and above: 27
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 50 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 32; 2009: 21; 2010: 31; 2011: 28; 2012: 20; 2013: 33; 2014: 27; 2015: 31; 2016: 32; 2017: 22; 2018: 24; 2019: 25; 2020: 11; 2021: 5; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 11; 2025: 6; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 88 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10214440 · 2008-01-10 (January 10, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,499 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9.
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222657 · 2008-03-29 (March 29, 2008)
RE: 2008 FORD F-150 I PICKED UP A NEW FORD F-150 YESTERDAY AND HAD AN EVENT OCCUR WHILE SLOWING IN PREPARATION FOR STOPPING BEHIND A LINE OF STOPPED VEHICLES AT A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL. INSTEAD OF SLOWING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS GENTLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT WAS ON A SHEET OF ICE. I COULD "FEEL" THE ABS BRAKES TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT IT SEEMED TO BE ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I BARELY MISSED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND A LIGHT POLE NEAR THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, SINCE I HAD TO STEER OFF OF THE ROAD A…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216703 · 2008-02-01 (February 1, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT RAISE UP OR DOWN. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, BUT THE TILT FEATURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE PARTS FOR THE REMEDY AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249514 · 2008-11-21 (November 21, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TIRES ARE COLD, THE STEERING SHAKES. THE STEERING OPERATES PROPERLY WHEN THE TIRES ARE WARM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS NORMAL DUE TO THE SOFT COMPOUND OF THE TIRE AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223206 · 2008-04-02 (April 2, 2008)
I HAVE A 2008 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND IT HAS ABOUT 4,000 MILES ON IT NOW. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY ALL THE TIME. ON ABOUT 12 TO 15 OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN I AM TRAVELING BETWEEN 15 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND I AM COASTING AROUND A CURVE, DOWN A HILL, OR AROUND AN ON OR OFF RAMP, WHILE COASTING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 15 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER COASTING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250822 · 2008-12-05 (December 5, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHARGER INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANT THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS FAILING. WHEN THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY FOUND NO FAILURES WITH THE TURBO CHARGER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE TAIL PIPE AGAIN.…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260213 · 2009-02-27 (February 27, 2009)
MY VEHICLE IS A 2008 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW. THIS HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER ABOUT 1000 MILES I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE APPEARED TO STALL WHEN ACCELERATING UPHIILL (CHANGING GEARS) AND THAT THE RPM'S WOULD REV DURING CITY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND I HAD TO GO TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES TO ATTEMPT TO PROVE THE ISSUE EXIST. AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TORE DOWN THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED PARTS AND THIS DID NOT RESOLVE IT. A MONTH LATER FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE EXISTED AND AS DEALERS TO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10260213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280407 · 2009-08-14 (August 14, 2009)
SMELLED ODOR OF GASOLINE WHILE DRIVING. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND WHEN EXITED VEHICLE, STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. WALKED TO REAR OF VEHICLE AND SAW A TRAIL OF GASOLINE SPLATTERS BEHIND 2008 FORD F150. LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW A POOL OF GASOLINE WITH GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM ALL AROUND FUEL TANK AND SURROUNDING AREA. IMMEDIATELY GOT ASSISTANCE AND DETERMINED THAT GASOLINE WAS COMING FROM AREA AT TOP OF FUEL TANK-AREA OF FUEL PUMP (BY TURNING KEY ON A 1-2 SECONDS WHILE ASSISTANT WATCHED UNDER PICKUP). WE REMOVED THE FUSE TO FUEL PUMP REL…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459728 · 2012-05-26 (May 26, 2012)
TRUCK WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO FORD DEALER AND PROBLEM TRACED TO CORRODED FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE. DIAGNOSE & REPAIR $235.80. THIS PART IS LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT IS SUBJECTED TO ROAD SALT & OTHER CONTAMINATES WHICH CASE CORROSION & FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240824 · 2008-09-03 (September 3, 2008)
2008 F150 SUPERCREW LARIAT 4X4 BOUGHT BRAND NEW ON JULY 18 WITH 426 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRUCK EXCEPT PUT A FLAT BED CAP ON THE BED THAT ATTACHES WITH CLAMPS UNDER THE BED RAIL AND HAS NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK LESS THAN 2500 MILES. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT I DROVE TO WORK JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME. PARKED TRUCK AND LOCKED VEHICLE AND WENT INTO FACTORY TO MY OFFICE. 35-40 MINUTES LATER I RECEIVED A CALL ON MY PHONE FROM THE GUARD BUILDING SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I WALKED BAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378662 · 2011-01-25 (January 25, 2011)
2008 F-150 RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON WHILE THE KEY IS OFF, OUT OF THE IGNITION, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, WITH THE DOORS CLOSED, THE WINDOWS CAN BE OPEN OR CLOSED. BEGAN RANDOMLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO (12-1-2010 @ 60K MILES). NO RE-OCCURRING PATTERN TO THE INCIDENCES. IF THE RADIO ON/OFF SWITCH IS OFF THE RADIO DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED SOME SORT OF "RADIO MODULE-$600.00" BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HELP; CONCERNED ABOUT BATTERY LIFE AND OTHER POTENTIAL ELECTRONIC FAILURES. *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378662 at NHTSA ↗